Opinion
02-24-00220-CV
08-22-2024
Pro-Health Podiatry P.A., Appellant v. Tarrant County, City of Arlington, City of Grand Prairie, Arlington Independent School District, Tarrant County College District, and Tarrant County Hospital District, Appellees
On Appeal from the 348th District Court Tarrant County, Texas Trial Court No. 348-D35847-23
Before Bassel, Womack, and Wallach, JJ.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Per Curiam
Appellant Pro-Health Podiatry P.A.'s notice of appeal was filed by its president and registered agent, Dr. Yvette E. Forbes-Baker. On June 21, 2024, we sent a letter to Pro-Health Podiatry P.A. informing it that further action was necessary:
A business entity generally may not appear in court through its directors or officers who are not attorneys, and a notice of appeal filed by such a director or officer is not effective. See Globe Leasing, Inc. v. Engine Supply & Mach. Serv[]., 437 S.W.2d 43, 45 (Tex. [] App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1969, no writ); see also Kunstoplast of Am., Inc. v. Formosa Plastics Corp., 937 S.W.2d 455, 456 (Tex. 1996). Legal entities, such as a corporation,generally may appear in court only through a licensed attorney. See Sherman v. Boston, 486 S.W.3d 88, 95 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2016, pet. denied); [Dell] Dev. Corp. v. Best Indus. Unif[.] Supply Co., 743 S.W.2d 302, 303 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1987, writ denied) ("Corporations may appear and be represented only by a licensed attorney."); see Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code Ann. § 302.001 (applying statutes governing for-profit corporations to professional associations as well).
Our records do not reflect that Dr. Yvette E. Forbes-Baker is an attorney. Accordingly, unless a licensed attorney files a notice of appearance for [A]ppellant Pro-Health Podiatry[] P.A. with this court on or before Monday, July 22, 2024, this appeal may be dismissed. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(b), (c).
Except as provided by Title 7 of the Texas Business Organizations Code, "a professional association [such as Pro-Health Podiatry P.A.] has the same powers, privileges, duties, restrictions, and liabilities as a for-profit corporation." E. Tex. Kidney Specialists, P.A. v. Vij, No. 12-24-00024-CV, 2024 WL 3084454, at *7 (Tex. App.-Tyler June 21, 2024, no pet.) (mem. op.) (quoting Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code Ann. § 2.108).
No licensed attorney has appeared for Pro-Health Podiatry P.A. Because Pro-Health Podiatry P.A. has failed to obtain counsel as directed by our June 21, 2024 letter, we dismiss its appeal. See Tex. R. App. P. 42.3(b), (c), 43.2(f), 44.3.